Disc unit

Details Disc unit Disc unit

2000-05-25

2001-09-25

Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)

Earth working

Scraper between front and rear ground supports of vehicle

With diverse tool or portion

C172S662000, C172S664000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293354

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a disc unit for mounting on a mouldboard of a road grader and more particularly to a mouldboard mounted disc unit for recovering scattered gravel from a shoulder of a road for reuse on the road,
BACKGROUND
Often on gravel roads, the gravel is displaced to the sides of the road and collects over time along a shoulder of the road due to the passing of vehicles. This is undesirable as the road loses its covering while the shoulder of the road becomes dangerous to drive on as it is full of loose particles.
Devices have been used in an effort to redistribute gravel evenly across the surface of the road. These do not effectively reclaim the gravel that collects at the shoulder of the road.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,188,435 to Hargrave describes a disking device for use with a grader or other similar vehicle. The disking device comprises a plurality of discs axially aligned and mounted either in front or to the rear of the mouldboard of the grader for levelling and spreading earth and other particulate materials. The device is limited however to being centrally mounted beneath the grader. The device requires manual adjustment of the height of the discs in relation to the grader and manual adjustment of the depth of cut of the discs.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a disc unit for collecting scattered particulate material from a shoulder of a road for reuse on the road when mounted on a road grader having a mouldboard extending transversely to a direction of travel of the road grader, the disc unit comprising:
a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart discs;
a cutting edge about a periphery of each disc arranged to engage the shoulder; and
a frame mounting the discs thereon, the frame being arranged to be mounted rearwardly of the mouldboard at an end thereof, each disc being oriented on the frame at an angle extending forward towards and laterally outwards with respect to the mouldboard, the frame being movable between an engaged position wherein the discs engage the shoulder for digging up and urging the particulate material towards the centre Qf the road and a raised position wherein the discs are spaced upwardly from the shoulder such that the discs do not interfere with normal operation of the mouldboard of the grader.
Preferably the discs are mounted axially along a common axis. When the discs are mounted along the common axis, the common axis is preferably arranged at an angle to the rear face of the mouldboard wherein an inner end of the axis is nearer to the rear face of the mouldboard than an outer end of the axis such that the discs mounted along the axis extend at an angle to the rear face of the mouldboard for urging the particulate material towards the centre of the road.
It is preferred that there be provided pivotal mounting means mounting the frame rearwardly of the mouldboard such that the frame is pivotal between the raised position and the engaged position.
When using pivotal mounting means there may be provided hydraulic control means controlling pivotal motion of the frame in relation to the mouldboard such that the discs are positionable at any height relative to the shoulder within a given range. A pressure relief valve may be connected to the hydraulic control means such that pressure within the hydraulic control means is relieved in the event of a sudden blow on the discs from an obstruction on the road.
There may be provided mounting means mounting the frame to the mouldboard wherein the mounting means is arranged such that a height of the discs at an inner end of the frame is adjustable in relation to the height of the discs at an outer end of the frame for levelling the discs on a range of road inclinations.
Preferably each disc includes a concave inner surface facing forwards and towards the centre of the road in use such that the discs are arranged to cut into the shoulder of the road and urge the particulate material towards the centre of the road.
A mounting bracket may be provided mounting the frame on the mouldboard wherein the mounting bracket is arranged to mount on the rear face of the mouldboard.


REFERENCES:
patent: 879970 (1908-02-01), Kruse
patent: 2188435 (1940-01-01), Hargrave
patent: 2622350 (1952-12-01), Arndt
patent: 3136078 (1964-06-01), Renault
patent: 4643261 (1987-02-01), Long
patent: 5695013 (1997-12-01), Waldron

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